California tops the nation in people 60 and older and they increased by 1.5 million in the last five years from 6.71 million in 2013 to 8.22 million in 2018

75 and up in SoCal

This map shows the percentage of people age 75 and older by census blocks of 4,000 people. The map was produced by Andrew Schroeder, Director of Research for the humanitarian aid organization Direct Relief using Esri software.

Sources: Direct Relief and U.S. Census

Percentage over 65

This Census Bureau map shows which counties have the highest percentage of people over 65.Southern California counties have some of the lowest percentages in the state.

Source: 2010 Census

California’s percentage of people 65 or older is lower than that of 43 states.

The national proportion is about 15.6 percent.

California’s proportion was about 14 percent in 2016.

Florida, Maine and Montana each have the highest proportion of people 65 or older at 19 percent.

Getting older quickly

The California Department of Aging estimated a 112 percent increase from 1990 to 2020.By county, this map shows the increase from 1990 to 2020.

Source: California Department of Aging

85 or older

From 1990 to 2020, the state population of people 85 or older is expected to increase by 143 percent.

By county, this map shows the increase from 1990 to 2020.

Source: California Department of Aging

Those strugglingMeals on Wheels America used data from 2014 and 2015 to provide state-specific information about the number of seniors facing challenges and served by the Older Americans Act.

Source: Meals on Wheels America

California percentages

Seniors struggling with hunger: 1.12 million (15.9%)

Seniors living alone: 1.47 million (21.3%)

Seniors living in or near poverty: 2.01 million: 39%

Meals on Wheels America serves 217,228 seniors in California, more than any state. 34.2 percent of its funding comes from the OAA the remaining comes from other sources.

SeniorServ, the largest nonprofit senior nutrition and supportive service provider in Orange County is having a fundraiser July 11.

Best states for aging

In 2012, U.S. News & World Report ranked each state for aging based on 12 factors. California was ranked 20th.

Factors included primary care, cost of living, unemployment rate, Medicare quality, population over 65 and nursing home quality.

The website SeniorAdvisor.com has cities and states ranked in a variety of categories for seniors including independent living, nursing homes and Alzheimer’s care.

Kurt Snibbe is a visual journalist for Southern California News Group. Snibbe has won several medals in international graphics competitions and was a staff cartoonist for ESPN.com. Snibbe began with The Orange County Register in 1997, left in 2008 and returned in 2013.